Teenager Dies from 'Brain-Eating Amoeba' in US... Spreading from South to Midwest and Northeast

Exposure to Naegleria fowleri in Las Vegas Lake
Experts: "Fatal but Mostly Preventable"

A teenage boy in the United States infected with Naegleria fowleri, known as the "brain-eating amoeba," has died. The photo shows Naegleria fowleri magnified under a microscope.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] A US teenager has died due to Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the "brain-eating amoeba."

On the 22nd (local time), according to the British Guardian, the Nevada State Department of Health recently reported the death of a teenager who appeared to have been exposed to Naegleria fowleri in a lake in Las Vegas. The health authorities stated that the unidentified deceased may have been exposed to the microorganism in the Kingman Wash area on the Arizona side of the Colorado River reservoir behind Hoover Dam during the weekend of the 30th of last month.

So far, Naegleria fowleri infections have mainly occurred in the southern United States, with about half of the cases concentrated in Texas and Florida. However, recently, infection cases have been reported extending to the Midwest and Northeast, indicating a spread of its habitat. Experts attribute this to rising water temperatures caused by warmer weather than usual.

In fact, although brain-eating amoeba infections are extremely fatal, most cases are preventable. Naegleria fowleri lives in warm freshwater between 25℃ and 46℃. It infects people only by entering through the nose and traveling to the brain, so it is not transmitted by swallowing water or person-to-person contact.

Actual infection cases are rare; since 1962, there have been only 151 cases of brain-eating amoeba infections in the US. The first Naegleria fowleri infection case this year was reported in July, and in September, Naegleria fowleri was detected in tap water in some areas of Texas, prompting health authorities to issue warnings.

The problem is that once infected with Naegleria fowleri, more than 97% of patients die. Early infection causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which presents symptoms similar to encephalitis or meningitis, including headache, fever, nausea, or vomiting. It then progresses to stiff neck, seizures, and coma, leading to death. Symptoms begin 1 to 12 days after exposure, and death usually occurs within about 5 days. There is no effective treatment.

Experts advise, "Avoid jumping or diving into warm water during summer and keep your head above the surface in geothermal waters such as hot springs or canyon pools." Also, when swimming in lukewarm or warm freshwater, not diving and wearing nose clips can prevent infection by 99%.

There have been no reported cases of infection in Korea so far.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.